The GANIL facility (Caen, France) is dedicated to the acceleration of heavy ion beams for nuclear physics, atomic physics, radiobiology and material irradiation. The production of stable and radioactive ion beams for nuclear physics studies represents the main part of the activity. The exotic beams are produced by the Isotope Separation On-Line method (ISOL, the SPIRAL1 facility) with SPIRAL1 facility. It is running since 2001, producing and post-accelerating radioactive ion beams. The review of the operation from 2001 to 2011 is presented. Because of the physicist demands, the facility is about to be improved with the project Upgrade SPIRAL1. The goal of the project is to extend the range of post-accelerated exotic beams avalaible.